Pathways to Reconstruction

Free technical program fast tracks students into the local workforce

By JARED BAILEY

Tri-Parish Times

Thanks to a relatively new grant, technical institutes and community colleges around the state are providing free training to people interested in picking up a new trade.

Funding for the program, “Pathways to Reconstruction,” was spurred by the huge need for trained workers to help rebuild in the wake of last year’s hurricane season.

In a partnership between the U.S. and Louisiana departments of Labor, $15 million was granted to the Louisiana Community and Technical College System to help in this process.

The money was awarded to LCTCS in July, and each school in the system was allocated a different amount depending on the programs offered and the demand for workers in their area, Catherine Barber, the workforce education coordinator at L.E. Fletcher Technical Community College, explained.

Barber said, “The purpose of this grant is provide some quick three-week training. Giving students the basic skills they need to perform certain trades and get them out to work.”

There are over 40 schools in LCTCS spread across the state, she said. Most of these “schools of excellence” offer similar programs that are congruent with their particular region’s needs.

Fletcher and Louisiana Technical College are both local schools that are members of LCTCS. Fletcher is offering training in welding and air conditioning repair. Barber said the grant covers costs of the courses, books and the supplies that are needed for enrollees to be trained properly.

Training in welding or air conditioning repair at Fletcher would typically cost a student $1,300 and $1,520, respectively. Because of this generous funding, the only cost incurred by the students is their time, Barber said.

In addition to the free training, students will also receive the tools needed to perform their skills on the job. Students who chose to enroll in Fletcher’s AC repair program will get a $700 tool kit to learn on and to take with them after the training is complete.

“They will be fully equipped to be an AC helper when they leave that class,” she said.

Leon Antoine Sr., a carpentry student in the pathways program at LTC Lafourche, said the pathways program has served him well in several ways.

‘When I went into it [pathways carpentry program] I didn’t really know anything about building a house,” Antoine said. “I always wanted to buy a house n but now I feel when this is all complete, I could build my own.”

Todd Rousell, a carpentry instructor at LTC Lafourche, said what he is teaching his students are the basic techniques of accuracy. He currently has his day class working on a small house-like building that will be fully functional n including electricity n by the time they leave.

Antoine is in Roussell’s class that is working on the project. His class will complete the program on Dec. 4.

The pathways course that Antoine is enrolled in is an 8-week course. “I like it so much, I am going back for the fall course,” he said. “It’s a two-year program that starts in January.”

When Antoine enters the program in January he believes that he will start a step ahead of the rest because of the skill he has learned in pathways.

Bert Miller, pathways carpentry student at LTC Lafourche, said the pathways program isn’t as easy as some may think. “It takes determination. You have to have a real desire to do it,” he said. “It sounds really easy in the beginning n but I have seen people come in and out in a week. It definitely takes discipline and determination to make it n but it’s a great program.”

After Miller finishes on Dec. 4 he plans to further hone his skills with small projects at home. He does plan to pursue a career in the carpentry industry but hasn’t decided which venue is right for him.

Cynthia Poskey, campus dean of LTC’s Lafourche location, said that enrollment has been meet with much success at both campuses so far. “We have 57 students that will be finishing up training in electrical, welding and carpentry this week,” she said.

According to Poskey, LTC will soon offer commercial drivers license (CDL) classes in addition to the electrical, welding and carpentry programs that have already begun.

The Pathways to Reconstruction grant is only good until June 30, 2007. After that deadline students can no longer enroll and take advantage of the free training.

“If they [Department of Labor] see it’s successful, but there is just not enough time in the day to get everyone trained, they may consider extending it,” Barber said. “But we haven’t heard anything about that yet.”

Fletcher and LTC are staggering class times to accommodate as many students personal schedules as possible. Fletcher is offering classes throughout the day in Houma and LTC is offering morning and evening classes at their campuses in Lafourche.

LTC will offer four more cycles of evening classes and three more cycles of day classes. “We also know that we have time built into that schedule where if more people than expected register we could work in another cycle,” Poskey added.

Both schools have seen an increase in numbers since the programs start date. In addition to LTC’s current enrollment, another 40 to 50 were expected to start on Monday, according to Poskey. Fletcher has 65 students presently enrolled in the program with another 116 expected to start in the upcoming cycle, Barber said.

According to Joan Granger, student affairs assistant at LTC, people interested in enrolling must meet very minimal requirements: Enrollees must be at least 18 years old and registered with Selective Service, fill out an application with the Department of Labor and with the school which they plan to attend, have a valid ID and a Social Security Card.

Additional information on the programs available in the Tri-parish region is available at www.lctcs.net.

Jared Bailey can be reached at (985) 876-3008 or jared@tri-parishtimes.com.

Photo by Jared Bailey • Tri-Parish Times Bert Miller, “pathways” carpentry student at Louisiana Technical College, is measuring a roof ready to be shingled. Miller will finish the 8-week course Dec. 4.